Guernsey – 43p stamp – Rooster crowing as the sun comes up
57p stamp – Standing Rooster with a cockscomb
58p stamp – Sitting Rooster with egg
64p stamp – Two Roosters pecking a Chinese cabbage
70p stamp – Two Roosters standing amongst gold ingots and coins
78p stamp – Family with bats and pumpkins

With origins that can be traced back over 4,000 years, Chinese Spring Festival, also known as the Lunar Chinese New Year, is the oldest and most significant celebration in the Chinese calendar.

Thought to have originated during the time of the Shang Dynasty (1766 BC – 1122 BC), traditionally Spring Festival was a time to honour deities and ancestors.  Today, in countries with significant Chinese populations including mainland China, Hong Kong and Indonesia, the festival is marked by many rich and lively activities.  Within China, regional customs and traditions to celebrate Chinese New Year vary widely, although many Chinese families come together for an annual reunion dinner on the eve of Chinese New Year’s Day.

According to the Chinese zodiac, 2017 is the Year of the Rooster, which ranks tenth out of twelve positions on the zodiac.  It begins on 28 January 2017 at the start of the Spring Festival and lasts until 15 February 2018.

Issue Date: 18.01.2017
Designer: Chrissy Lau
Printer: Lowe Martin
Process: Offset Lithography
Size: 30.5mm deep x 40mm wide
Values: 43p, 57p, 58p, 64p, 70p, 78p